Final chunk of ‘biggest ever’ fatberg goes on display at Museum of London

From the depths of London’s sewage network to a pristine museum display cabinet, this is the last remaining chunk of a “monster” fatberg found beneath the streets of the East End.

The vile discovery was 250 metres long and weighed 130 tonnes – the same as 11 double-decker buses – when it was discovered in a sewer in Whitechapel.

It was made up of a solidified mass of nappies, wet wipes and oil, and was thought to be one of the biggest fatbergs ever discovered.

And from Friday, its last chunk will be put on display at the Museum of London, where visitors will also be able to find out about how fatbergs are cleared from the sewers beneath the capital.

130-tonne ‘fatberg’ blocks sewer under London street

“Fatbergs are disgusting, fascinating things which mark a particular moment in London’s history, created by people and businesses who discard rubbish and fat which London’s Victorian sewer system was never designed to cope with,” said Vyki Sparkes, Curator of Social and Working History at the Museum of London.

When the fatberg was discovered, engineers said it would take three weeks to be cleared, saying that it was blocking a stretch of Victorian sewer more than twice the length of two Wembley football pitches.

The monster fatberg found in east London blocked a sewer. (PA)

Workers removed 20 to 30 tonnes per shift, working nine hours a day, seven days a week.

Becky Trotman, from Thames Water, added: “This display is a vivid reminder to us all that out of sight is not gone forever, so please help keep London and all the sewers flowing – don’t feed the fatberg.”

The Whitechapel fatberg was more than 10 times bigger than the one in Kingston in 2013 which made national headlines.

Thames Water said it spends about £1 million a month clearing blockages from its sewers.